August 2021 a Class of '55 Lunch at Amalfi's in Lawrenceville, NJ, Last
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Class Notes - 1955 May - December ‘16 Jan. – December ‘17 Jan. – December ‘18 Jan. – December ‘19 Jan. – December ‘20 Use Ctrl/F (Find) to search Jan. – August ‘21 …your news and memories for for names, topics, months, Class Notes. Previous columns years, whatever. Scroll up are below. or down to see nearby information. Email: [email protected] Click the “X” box to return to the class site. July 2021 – August 2021 A Class of ’55 lunch at Amalfi’s in Lawrenceville, NJ, last October brought out a loyal group organized by Bill Doerler, who arrived with his wife, Pat. Also in attendance were Fred Antil, Barbara Balsam Brown, Ann Farwell Hoffman, Stan and Beverly Manning, and the Usiskins (Clive and Joyce). Carol Spivak ’56 also joined the bunch. Most of them had planned to be at our 65th Reunion last June — but life didn’t work out that way. Maybe the 70th will be the magic number! Eleanor Greig Downing, who lives in Endwell, writes that she has ten grandchildren and three “greats” keeping her busy. Floyd Ayers from St. Cloud, MN, reports he’s been “training my hunting dogs” and focusing on “next year’s plans.” During his years on campus, the Clinton House was a favorite dining destination, with seafood on the menu. Daniel Krouner brought us up to date on his life with this summary: “Retired from New York State tax and finance after 26 years, and then spent remaining years in the hospitality field, managing hotels. After welcoming eight grandchildren, the family gained two new great-grandchildren and thankfully, all are healthy.” As a loyal season ticket-holder and attendee at Boston Celtics games from Albany for 55 years, Danny was honored at the NBA Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA, by the Celtics. He joined an elite group paying tribute to Bird, Cousy, and others whose names appear on the banners. Danny served as our class treasurer for three years, and summarized that he was “lucky with friends from Sage Hall as a freshman,” and enjoyed great friends all these years at frat reunions in Scottsdale, and during his days on the basketball team with Hank Buncom and Dick Schaap. “All the hotelies still meet, like Nils Nordberg and his great wife.” He adds, “I really finally grew up,” and it sounds like it was a great adventure all the way. Bob Leader says “like everyone else,” he’s anxious to travel, visit, discard the mask, and get vaccinated, and as for changes in his life, his children “telephone more often, but marriages, births, illness and growing in maturity continue.” Ken Carlson moved from Colorado to Ocala, FL, in 2020 and finds his new situation “amazing! We no longer have snowstorms of three to four feet, and no more shoveling: good news at 87!” The Carlsons are living on the first fairway at Ocala Palms. “Come visit and bring your good luck and clubs!” Ken has kept in touch with Dave Schmidt and his wife, Joanne, who had recently arrived in Fort Pierce, FL. “Go, Class of ’55!” Seymour Musiker is a Florida resident, but summers on Long Island.What’s changed in Sy’s life can be traced to Covid 19 and the subsequent isolation and vaccination requirement. His biggest takeaway from the pandemic is becoming familiar with “Fauci, a Cornell man.” A connection we’re all proud of, for sure. Dick Kurtz says his daily life changed “radically, with six weeks of Covid 19 and a week in the hospital with 104 fever for several days, and “our quads, of course!” Dick says we can check “The More the Merrier” for updates on their granddaughter’s four identical boy quadruplets, “all very healthy and handsome in Dallas.” After being born sharing one placenta, they celebrated their first birthday on March 15 and now have over 75,000 followers on the Web. Alice Heft Saligman Brinkmann’s big news is their move to Philadelphia, and John Braun reports that he and Marilyn moved into a retirement home only a few miles north of their home of 57 years in Wyoming, a Cincinnati suburb. The only downside is “it’s difficult to get out and meet new people.” Don Jacobs appreciates getting older – “lucky at 88” – he’s trying to keep healthy and out of hospitals. “I am married to that lovely coed (Frances Walden ‘56) I met at Cornell in 1954.” As for life in a pandemic, it sure is better with two!” They have three children, all doing well. Don says they “live in a community that has provided all the pandemic aids.” Dave Sheffield comments that “not too much has changed for retired folk like us, compared to the true changes placed upon working families with children.” I now have two granddaughters at Cornell -- but their experience (with masks and social distancing) won’t match ours. We know that they’ll come up with their own traditions instead, and make it all work for them. A Greek poet, Constantine Peter Cavafy, wrote a poem published in 1911 entitled “Ithaka”, in which he talks about the voyage we can all relate to. “As you set out for Ithaka hope your road is a long one. full of adventure, full of discovery . May there be many summer mornings when, With what pleasure, what joy, You enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time . Keep Ithaka always in your mind. Arriving there is what you’re destined for. But don’t hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, So you’re old by the time you reach the island, Wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way, not expecting Ithaka to make you rich. Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey . Without her you wouldn’t have set out She has nothing left to give you now. And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you, Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, You’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean. Thank you to everyone who is submitting their news! We have a word limit each issue, so your submission may appear in a future posting. MAY 2021 -JUNE 2021 Paul Sammelwitz’s favorite dining experience at Cornell was visiting with his older sister and her husband, a 1953 graduate who was employed locally and residing in Ithaca during his time there. Paul has been “keeping up with daily appointments -- including doctor visits, working out at the local YMCA, and most important, visiting my wife and having dinner with her each evening. She is in a local facility that deals with dementia.” Doris Wunsch Neilson just finished a Caribbean cruise that took her to three new countries. “I have visited 183 countries out of the 196 from the International Travel News list.” She is recovering from lymphoma, “which kept me down the past year. Now things are looking good!” We’re glad to hear that, Doris. Peter Romeo describes his “domicile” in an independent living facility -- where his unit backs up to a girls- only high school softball diamond -- “a great spectator venue. I take a short walk to the main building for breakfast every morning and converse with them between bites and slurps.” Winthrop Cody lives in Naples, FL and continues to play golf twice a week. His wife, Marilyn, died in 2019, ending 61 years of happy marriage. Win was looking forward to our 65th reunion last June, but it was not to be. Before all plans were cancelled, he commented, “It’s neat that I can stay at the Statler on campus!” Floyd Ayers keeps busy training his hunting dogs and giving thought to next year’s plans. A favorite dining experience was “seafood at the Clinton House.” For Malcolm Whyte, it’s “family, friends and writing” that bring him the most satisfaction these days. His new book “Gorey Secrets,” published by the University Press in Mississippi, is due out this spring. Malcolm adds, “I appreciate the many interesting articles in the alumni magazine. Well done!” Allen Blauth says that “Foulkways has done a wonderful job in keeping us safe from Covid 19,” and has programs (fitness, with a max of four in the gym at one time) that suit him. Allen’s wife, Barbara, died in 2018 but a lady, two years younger, “tries her best to keep me going.” Due to arthritis, he’s had to give up golf and fly-fishing. Allen has a great kitchen so “we cook as much as possible.” The two things that keep Gordon White busy are sailing on Chesapeake Bay and “driving my vintage race car.” Anything else? Writing and “keeping on as I am,” he says. E. Howland Smith describes himself as “long retired” after many years as a consultant and fund raiser for non-profits, including three years at the Cornell Hotel School. We send condolences on learning that that Swifty’s oldest son died last August. Swifty wishes he could still be skiing and/or playing tennis, but he’s happy to be “enjoying warm winters in Arizona and cool summers in Vermont with family.” He has fond memories of “that great restaurant way up on a hill across the lake with wonderful views.” Bob Mules has been working around the house, yard and garden. “I still like to bowl, but our team has split up.” Bob’s roommate Bill Hughes, died last April. Bob would like to be traveling more, but Margaret can’t. “I love our church. I love my wife of 62 years. I thank God every day for my good health and each day He gives me.” As for Bob’s favorite dining experience: “The dairy barn crew would all go down to Joe’s Italian restaurant once in a while.